Are Christians Still ‘sinners'?

Over the years I have heard well-meaning Christians describe their battle with temptation  with, “after all I’m still a  sinner, or I still have the ‘Old Man’  living inside of me” I’ve even heard a  pastor say the greatest battle we face as Christians is within us, that sin nature that fights within us to express itself again….

BUT what does the Bible say about ‘the sin nature’?

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” 

Gal. 2:20  -KJV

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.”  2 Cor. 5:17  -NKJV

What has passed away? Not our physical appearance or personality… BUT the inclination toward sin, the bent toward selfishness and rebellion toward God. Those things have passed away; they have been paid for FULLY with the blood of Jesus Christ.

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Cor. 5:21

We are ‘fully saved’; our entire nature has been changed from sinful to righteous.

But often their reply is; “I’m still a sinner: you mean you have never sinned?” Of course, we all have on occasion ‘sinned’ or violated God’s standards. BUT; have you ever as a Christian told a lie? (you probably have) but do you describe yourself as a liar? Or taken something that doesn’t belong to you?  Do you consider yourself a thief?  Probably not, on occasion you might say something that is not true or take something that is not yours, but your ‘nature’ does not change. You repent and get it right before the Lord. A liar lies by nature and a thief steals by nature- each on a regular basis whenever they think they can get away with it.

A SINNER SINS BY NATURE, A CHRSITIAN SINS BY CHOICE.

The ‘Antidote ‘

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”

When the Holy Spirit convicts us of a sin, we respond with sorrow and repentance, and He forgives us of that sin and cleanses (removes the guilt, shame and embarrassment of that sin) He cleanses our conscience of that unrighteous act. We are forgiven! Cleansed!

God is calling us to live as cleansed, free, victorious children of God! He has paid in His blood for our ‘sin’ and His blood continues to bring cleansing and full forgiveness as we confess any occasional sin.

Remember, we are all tempted.   1 Jn. 2:16

  BUT there is always a way of escape… if we turn to Jesus

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  1 Cor. 10:13

live victoriously,

Gary